Life Happens with Barb & Michelle – Details, episodes & analysis

Mean people are everywhere right now and the data confirms it. In this episode, Barb and Michelle unpack why cruelty seems to be escalating, breaking down the different types of mean people we all encounter and what actually drives their behavior. Barb shares a raw, personal story about being screamed at in a parking lot while her mother was dying in hospice, and what that moment taught her about judgment, control, and the stories we never see.

This conversation goes deep into narcissism, spiritual bypassing, the difference between empathy and giving someone a pass, and how to stop carrying what was never yours in the first place. Whether you are dealing with a cruel stranger, a toxic family member, or your own tendency to absorb other people's behavior, this episode gives you a practical framework for protecting your peace without losing your compassion.

What you'll take away:

• Why the shift from "thinking it" to "saying it" is fueling a cruelty epidemic
• The grocery store moment that reveals how we all judge without knowing someone's story
• How to shift from asking "why are they like this" to "what can I do right now"
• What a real narcissist looks like and why they genuinely cannot change
• The practical difference between forgiving someone and simply being done with them

Don't let someone else's cruelty become the story you carry. Learn how to set it down.

💬 We’d love to hear from you! What insight or moment resonated most with you in this episode? Share in the comments—we truly read every one.

📅 Subscribe & Join Us Next Tuesday for another heartfelt episode of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle! 💕

🎙️ Hosted by:

https://www.instagram.com/peaceful_barb/

https://www.instagram.com/michellemaros/

Join our community ⬇️

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@LifeHappensThePodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifehappensthepodcast/

Substack: https://lifehappensthepodcast.substack.com/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lifehappensthepodcast

Listen to our podcast anywhere→ https://michellemaros.com/podcast/

🎙️ New episodes of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle are released every Tuesday

✨ Available Now✨ Order Dear Friend to receive daily doses of clarity, hope, and heartfelt encouragement.💌 https://amzn.to/3Us9eqg

📘 Go Deeper with Dear Friend

If this episode resonated with you, you may also love Michelle’s USA TODAY bestselling book, Dear Friend, a daily reflection companion designed to help you reconnect with your inner voice, honor your needs, and find clarity and strength one day at a time.

Because resilience doesn’t begin with changing your circumstances.

It begins with strengthening your relationship with yourself.

And that may be the most important relationship you’ll ever build.

👉 Order your copy: https://amzn.to/3Us9eqg

🎧 Listen to the audiobook and step into a year that truly loves you back: https://amzn.to/459zSdt

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Comparison is the one emotion everybody feels and nobody admits to — and Barb Schmidt and Michelle Maros of Life Happens with Barb & Michelle were scared to record this episode for a reason. In this raw, unfiltered conversation, they unpack the jealousy, resentment, and quiet self-destruction that comparison leaves behind — and make a case that might surprise you by the end.

From Michelle comparing her book sales to her friends' mid-tour, to Barb owning up to something she projected onto Michelle for years, this episode goes places most podcast conversations never do. If you've ever felt something ugly creep in while watching someone else win — and then felt ashamed of it — this one is for you.

What you'll take away:

• Why 85% of your daily thoughts are negative — and how comparison supercharges the loop
• How jealousy and envy are signals, not character flaws — and what they're actually pointing to
• The self-talk method for catching comparison before it turns into resentment
• Why "be better than yesterday" might be quietly doing more damage than good
• How to let comparison fuel action instead of shame

Don't risk letting comparison keep stealing your joy without ever asking what it was trying to tell you. Learn how to read it instead.

Episode Breakdown ⬇️

0:00 Introduction

0:36 Where Does Comparison Come From?

0:52 The Science of Negative Thinking

7:07 Barb's Personal Story: Childhood & Comparison

9:19 Comparing Yourself to Yourself

11:23 Comparison, Jealousy & Envy

25:09 Michelle's Story: Visiting a Friend's Family

28:22 Self-Talk as the Key Tool

39:17 Can Comparison Actually Be Helpful?

40:50 Takeaways & Closing

💬 We’d love to hear from you! What insight or moment resonated most with you in this episode? Share in the comments—we truly read every one.

📅 Subscribe & Join Us Next Tuesday for another heartfelt episode of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle! 💕

🎙️ Hosted by:

• https://www.instagram.com/peaceful_barb/
• https://www.instagram.com/michellemaros/

Join our community ⬇️

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@LifeHappensThePodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifehappensthepodcast/

Substack: https://lifehappensthepodcast.substack.com/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lifehappensthepodcast

Listen to our podcast anywhere→ https://michellemaros.com/podcast/ 

🎙️ New episodes of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle are released every Tuesday

✨ Available Now✨ Order Dear Friend to receive daily doses of clarity, hope, and heartfelt encouragement.💌 https://amzn.to/3Us9eqg

📘 Go Deeper with Dear Friend

If this episode resonated with you, you may also love Michelle’s USA TODAY bestselling book, Dear Friend, a daily reflection companion designed to help you reconnect with your inner voice, honor your needs, and find clarity and strength one day at a time.

Because resilience doesn’t begin with changing your circumstances.

It begins with strengthening your relationship with yourself.

And that may be the most important relationship you’ll ever build.

👉 Order your copy: https://amzn.to/3Us9eqg

🎧 Listen to the audiobook and step into a year that truly loves you back: https://amzn.to/459zSdt

Our Sponsors:

* Check out Time4Learning: https://www.time4learning.com

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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if being “selfish” is actually the key to healthier relationships?

In this week’s episode of Life Happens with Barb & Michelle, we’re answering your questions about navigating difficult relationship dynamics — without guilt, overexplaining, or abandoning yourself in the process.

From unrealistic expectations and gossip to setting boundaries for the first time, we’re diving into the messy, uncomfortable, and very real parts of relationships.

💬 Barb shares how she sets boundaries and approaches hard conversations with clarity and calm.

💬 Michelle opens up about releasing guilt, healing with confidence, and refusing to live in a victim mindset.

This conversation is honest, practical, and empowering — especially if you’ve ever struggled with people-pleasing or feeling responsible for everyone else’s emotions.

✨ In This Episode, We Explore:

• Why guilt often keeps us stuck — and what to do instead
• How to identify your values and honor your needs
• Setting boundaries without overexplaining
• Supporting loved ones without rescuing them
• Why healthy relationships require clarity, not self-sacrifice

At the heart of it all? You don’t build strong relationships by shrinking yourself. You build them by standing in your truth.

📘 Continue the Conversation

If this episode resonates, you may also love Michelle’s USA TODAY bestselling book, Dear Friend — a daily reflection companion designed to help you reconnect with yourself, strengthen your inner voice, and practice emotional clarity one day at a time.

Because the most important relationship you’ll ever build… is the one you have with yourself.

👉 Order your copy: https://amzn.to/3Us9eqg

🎧 Listen to the audiobook and step into a year that truly loves you back: https://amzn.to/459zSdt

💬 We’d love to hear from you! What insight or moment resonated most with you in this episode? Share in the comments—we truly read every one.

📅 Subscribe & Join Us Next Tuesday for another heartfelt episode of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle! 💕

🎙️ Host by:

• https://www.instagram.com/peaceful_barb/
• https://www.instagram.com/michellemaros/

Join our community⬇️

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@LifeHappensThePodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifehappensthepodcast/

Substack: https://lifehappensthepodcast.substack.com/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lifehappensthepodcast

Listen to our podcast anywhere→ https://michellemaros.com/podcast/ 

🎙️ New episodes of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle are released every Tuesday

✨ Available Now✨ Order Dear Friend to receive daily doses of clarity, hope, and heartfelt encouragement.💌 https://amzn.to/3Us9eqg

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this week's episode, Barb and Michelle discuss their personal practices for letting go of regret. They both share their stories and experiences from their lives that led them to feel like they had wasted time, and wished they had made important changes sooner, and how they both are gently releasing these feelings.  

We take a deep dive into:

• How we can start to embody the notion that no time spent is ever wasted
• How we can be more gentle with ourselves for how we’ve spent our past
• How would we feel if we didn’t have the regret and anxiety about spending “too much” time on our “mistakes”

Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at Michellemaros.com/podcast.

Click here for Barb’s book, The Practice. 

Don’t miss a thing, sign up for our newsletter, here!

This episode is brought to you by AG1 and Mint Mobile.

AG1 is a comprehensive, all-in-one supplement made up of 75 vitamins, minerals, and whole food sourced ingredients. Head over to drinkag1.com/barbknowsbest to get a free one-year supply of vitamin D3+K2 and five AG1 travel packs with your first purchase. 

Mint Mobile is premium wireless for $15 a month. All plans come with high-speed data and unlimited talk and text delivered on the nation’s largest 5G network. To get this new customer offer and your new 3-month unlimited wireless plan for just $15 a month, go to mintmobile.com/barbknowsbest.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this week's episode, Barb and Michelle discuss the often requested topic of worry. Sharing from personal experience, Barb and Michelle chat about how worry shows up in their lives and how they’ve slowly intended to release the unnecessary nature of it.

We take a deep dive into:

• What is worry?
• Why are we so quick to lean into worry?
• How can we worry less?
• What would life look like with faith over worry?

Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at Michellemaros.com/podcast.

Click here for Barb’s book, The Practice. 

Don’t miss a thing, sign up for our newsletter, here!

Mentioned in today’s episode:

• Why Worrying Isn’t Worth It

• 85 Percent of What We Worry About Never Happens 

This episode is brought to you by AG1.

AG1 is a comprehensive, all-in-one supplement made up of 75 vitamins, minerals, and whole food sourced ingredients. Head over to drinkag1.com/barbknowsbest to get a free one-year supply of vitamin D3+K2 and five AG1 travel packs with your first purchase.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this week's episode, Barb and Michelle continue their conversation about forgiveness, opening up about what this practice actually looks like in real life. Barb shares personal stories and insights from her recent divorce, and walks us through her steps to aligned forgiveness. 

We take a deep dive into:

• The real goal of forgiveness
• What we should let go of when seeking to forgive
• Tangible steps towards seeking forgiveness

Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at Michellemaros.com/podcast.

Click here for Barb’s book, The Practice. 

Don’t miss a thing, sign up for our newsletter, here!

Mentioned in today’s episode:

• What We Get Wrong About Forgiveness Part I
• The Game of Life and How to Play It

This episode is brought to you by Factor.

Factor’s fresh, chef-prepared meals take the guesswork out of eating healthy. Every meal uses thoughtfully sourced ingredients with no hormones, antibiotics, GMOs, or additives. Head over to factormeals.com/barbknowsbest50 to get 50% off your first box, plus 20% off your next month.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this week's episode, Barb and Michelle discuss one of Barb’s oldest, and most life-changing practices: mantra repetition. Learn all about this powerful practice: what it is, how to do it, and how it can change your life. Plus, Barb and Michelle share how using a mantra has impacted both of their lives, personally.  

We take a deep dive into:

• What is a mantra?
• How can you choose which mantra is right for you?
• How can we incorporate this practice into our lives, no matter how busy we are

Click here for Barb’s book, The Practice. 

Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at Michellemaros.com/podcast.

Don’t miss a thing, sign up for our newsletter, here!

This episode is brought to you by Factor. 

Factor’s fresh, chef-prepared meals take the guesswork out of eating healthy. Every meal uses thoughtfully sourced ingredients with no hormones, antibiotics, GMOs, or additives. Head over to factormeals.com/barbknowsbest50 to get 50% off your first box, plus 20% off your next month.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this week's special Mother's Day episode, Barb and Michelle dive into their personal mother/daughter relationship, sharing intimate stories, lessons, and insights from their lives. Barb also shares her biggest tips for parenting and raising strong, centered children. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

Don’t miss a thing, sign up for our newsletter, here!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this week's episode, Barb finally opens up about a practice that she's been hesitant to bring onto the show: forgiveness. Learn about what Barb struggled with when faced with forgiveness, and what she thinks we get wrong about the journey to forgiveness. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at  www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

Don’t miss a thing, sign up for our newsletter, here!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this week's brand new episode, Barb opens up about an addition to her daily practice that has dramatically changed her life. Learn the three specific steps she's been taking to find a greater sense of inner peace and happiness. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at  www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

Don’t miss a thing, sign up for our newsletter, here!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.